Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109695 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Sighing, I closed my eyes, too tired to think anymore, and finally drifted off.
∞∞∞
A noise brought me awake, and it took a minute to remember where I was. I sat up and tried not to groan. Every muscle in my body had stiffened during the night, and I spent the next few minutes stretching the kinks out.
The noise sounded again, and I realized it was coming from the kitchen. I almost ran out in my boxers, but remembered my shorts just in time. I hurried out, hoping Serenity hadn’t destroyed my expensive coffee brewer.
I found her wearing the same t-shirt as last night and standing beside my coffee grinder. She glanced up, and her eyes widened. Her gaze landed on my bare chest, and her mouth dropped open. “Uh…” She swallowed. “I’m sorry if I woke you. I thought I’d make some coffee.”
“It’s fine.” I shook my head and crossed to her. “Do you know how to use that?” I motioned to the coffee grinder.
Her lips turned down. “Of course I do.” She pulled the ground coffee beans out and stepped to my precious coffee brewer. She hesitated, and it was all I needed to hurry to her side.
“Here. I’ve got it, why don’t you sit down?”
She pushed my reaching hands away. “You don’t think I know how to make coffee?” She settled the beans into the top of the machine and moved to push the button.
“Wait. Do pre-infusion. It’s this button.” I pushed the button and waited for the beeps. “There. Now you can start it up.”
Twisting her lips, she pushed the start button and glanced my way, freezing when she realized how close we were standing to each other. “I’m, uh… it’s a little chilly in here. I’m going to get dressed while it’s brewing.” Her throat bobbed as she stared at my lips.
“You sure?” My voice went husky. She wore a too-big t-shirt, and all I had on was my shorts. I could remedy that. “I could give you my shorts if you’d like.”
Her eyes widened. “No— I mean, yes.”
I grinned, wanting to step forward and run my hands under the shirt and over her bare stomach and waist. “So… no, you’re not sure about getting dressed, or yes, you’re sure you want my shorts?”
A bright red blush covered her cheeks. “I’m only sure that you’re bad news.”
She quickly turned and practically ran to her room. The sound of her door slamming brought a smile to my lips. Shaking my head, I hurried back into my room to get dressed for the day.
Chapter 11
Serenity
Iclosed the door and leaned against it to catch my breath. I was in so much trouble. Part of me had wanted to run my hands all over his perfect chest. The sane, rational part was yelling to run as far away as I could.
Letting out a sigh, I quickly made the bed and tried to figure out what to wear today. I wasn’t so sure I could handle wearing pants over my burn, but I didn’t have a skirt or dress that would work.
Needing to take a look at it, I slipped off my shirt and tugged my undies down. The burn was on my right side, high enough that I wouldn’t sit on it if I sat on the edge of my seat.
I twisted and turned, but couldn’t see it at all. If not for the mirror in the bathroom, I never would have been able to bandage it last night. I gingerly pulled the tape away on one side, but the gauze wasn’t coming off.
I tugged at it, and gasped at the sharp pain. Was it stuck to the wound? “Dammit!” I should have waited until I was in the bathroom across the hall to look at it. Now what was I going to do?
Maybe if I got it wet it would come off? But I couldn’t go across the hall half naked. I heaved a sigh and got dressed, pulling my pants to just below the wound and leaving them undone. I slipped on my bra and a t-shirt, pulling it down to cover me up. The shirt wasn’t big enough to do the job, so I put my sleep shirt back on.
I really didn’t want Stone to see me with my pants undone. Hopefully I could make it to the bathroom before he noticed. I hurried to the door, just as he knocked.
“Is everything okay in there?”
Damn! What lousy timing. I pulled the door open a crack. Stone stood in the hall holding a cup of coffee. “Coffee’s ready.”
It smelled amazing, and I realized there was nothing for it. I needed his help. “I’m having trouble with my burn. I think the gauze is stuck, and I can’t see what’s going on.”
“Oh… that’s too bad.” He glanced down at my unbuttoned pants and nodded. “That’s gotta hurt. Let’s go in the bathroom, and I’ll take a look at it.” Instead of waiting, he stepped to the bathroom.